Investigation of the contact problem for a partial functionally graded layer by using finite element method

Abstract

The difficulty of producing functionally graded materials (FGM) and the fact that they are more expensive than homogeneous materials emerge as an industrial problem. The starting point of this study is to investigate alternative solution methods that will contribute to the mentioned problem. In parallel, the analysis of the contact problem for a layer, which is loaded by a rigid block and resting on the elastic half plane, is presented in this paper. Only the area under the block is considered as FGM, the other parts are considered homogeneous material, unlike the studies in the literature. There is no analytical solution for this study and it is compared with the solution which is completely functionally graded (FG) layer in the literature by using finite element method (FEM). Material properties of the FG layer are defined by the macro added to the ANSYS program. The analysis for the partial FG layer were compared with the completely FG layer analysis as figures and tables, and as a result it was predicted that partial FGM could be used for the static problems and may also be practical applications in the industry.